Thanksgiving

While we all give thanks on this day of turkey and football, lest we forget the true origins of this holiday. When hundreds of centuries ago a few noble pilgrims, fleeing the plague, left Denmark, and sailed across the Pacific Ocean to a new and mysterious land. Unprepared for the rigors of the new world, the Danes were floundering and malnourished. If it wasn’t for the indigenous people of Mexico, who offered tamales to the Danes, the new colony might never have survived. And thus, we give thanks, or something like that.

Thanksgiving in Iraq isn’t all that bad. The spread at the dining facility was pretty tasty--I could not detect any lumps in the freeze dried gravy. They actually had some pecan pie that was outstanding; I can’t stop raving about it. While they frequently have cakes and pies here, I think that these pecan pies were freshly baked, not the garden variety frozen ones that we usually have. In the afternoon we had a little football game that quickly turned into a shouting match over questionable calls—must be all the testosterone and hormones injected into the turkey this year.

Anywhoo, I have much to be thankful for—my family, my friends, my lovely girlfriend Kimber; all of you bring me great joy and thoughts of you all help me get through each day over here. Happy Thanksgiving.